The Great Lakes can have powerful currents as dangerous as those in the ocean. Tune in for some “current” events:
The Great Lakes will sweep you off your feet, but with rip currents instead of a white horse and shining armor. (via Chris Brewster, USLA, NOAA)
When you think rip current, you might think the Atlantic Ocean. But rip currents are quite common in the Great Lakes as well.
National Weather Service meteorologist Jon Hitchcock says there are a couple conditions necessary to create a rip current.
Hitchcock: “One you need a fairly windy day that generates significant wave action, then the second part you need is a sandy shoreline.”
When the wind piles waves up on the beach, the pressure carves a trench in the sand that allows water to rush back into the lake. This happens so quickly that it carries everything out with it, including the unlucky swimmer.
But don’t panic! Hitchcock says you can escape from a rip current by swimming parallel to the beach.
Hear More:
Jon Hitchcock describes hotspots for rip currents on the Great Lakes.
Get Schooled:
- Learn more about the dangers of rip currents with this segment by NPR
- Listen to this special 4-part series by Great Lakes Today about the dangers of powerful currents.
- Read about the beach hazards of Lake Ontario in this article by Democrat and Chronicle
- Planning a trip to the beach? Go to the National Weather Service website and click on your region of the Great Lakes to see what beach hazards and warnings are in effect.
The Fine Print:
- This segment was produced with Cornell’s Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future, and supported by agreement with New York Sea Grant, funds provided by the Environmental Protection Fund under the authority of the New York Ocean and Great Lakes Ecosystem Conservation Act. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this broadcast are those of the originators and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stony Brook University or New York Sea Grant.
